Even for probably the most elite athletes, qualifying for the Olympics is just one a part of the battle. The next step is to find funds to take part in international sports events. What most U.S. Olympic teams do not know is that they’re largely privately funded – and sometimes that funding comes from an unlikely source, like hip-hop icon Flavor Flav.

After Maggie Steffens, captain of the 2024 U.S. women’s water polo team, recently make clear how difficult it might probably be to raise money to compete, the “Don’t Believe the Hype” rapper promised to help her within the comments .

“Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a second (or third) job to help chase their dreams (myself included!) and most teams depend on sponsors for travel, lodging, dietary support, rentals/lodging and easily technique of living nowadays,” Steffens, 30, began along with his signature post from May 4 on Instagram.

She continued: “Especially women athletes and girls athletes. We have had firms and amazing individuals support our sport together with donors, USAWP and USOPC, but we at all times need more help.

In response, Flav wrote: “AYYY YOOO,,, as a father of a girl and a supporter of all women’s sports – I’ll personally sponsor you, my girl, whatever you would like. And I’ll sponsor the complete team.

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Flav is the daddy of eight children, including 4 daughters. He has daughters Shanique Drayton, Karren Drayton and Karla Drayton with ex-girlfriend Karen Ross, daughter Da’Zyna Drayton and sons Quanah Drayton and William Drayton with one other ex Angie Parker, and son Karma Drayton with wife Elizabeth Trujillo. In 2022, the daddy came upon that he also has a son named Jordan, 4 years old.

In a response to Steffens, the truth star added that his manager can be contacting her agent to see how he could help, and reiterated his willingness to use his resources to provide the team with all the things they may need.

“That’s the promise of FLAVOR FLAV,” he said.

The United States women’s national water polo team is preparing for this yr’s Summer Olympics and has already won three gold medals – in 2012, 2016 and 2020. However, as many athletes, including Steffens, said competing at a global level is a costly endeavor. In addition to travel costs, hundreds of dollars are spent on advance training alone.

According to the Olympic Games website, International Olympic Committee (IOC) uses money generated throughout the Olympic Games to help athletes and sports organizations world wide. Meanwhile, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee it also raises money to offset the financial burden of athletes.

Flavor Flav is one other star and rapper who showed support for the American team before July. In a recent campaign for NBC, Cardi B got a manicure with Olympic runner Sha’Carri Richardson and stated that she was only there to see the track star.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will start on Friday, July 26.

It looks as if each time Lewis Hamilton does anything for the culture, it triggers a wave of racism. His performance at this 12 months’s Met Gala was no different.

On May 6, the annual Met Gala took place in New York, with the long-awaited theme of “Sleeping Beauties: Fashion Awakening.” Hamilton’s outfit for the evening was designed by Burberry and inspired by the work of an 18th-century gardener, which fit perfectly into the “Garden of Time” gala dress code.

The Formula 1 star pondered long and hard about his outfit for the evening, telling Vogue: “I did a lot of research and came across an 18th century gardener who came from Africa to Wales during slavery and became the first black gardener in Wales. And so, despite the odds, we truly triumphed. So that’s really where we get our inspiration from.”

Hamilton accessorized with an attention-grabbing spiked necklace, which he believed symbolized the pain the black community had to endure during times of enslavement.

“I like that the thorns are meant to show pain during the times of the slavery trade,” he added.

Inside the jacket was a poem by the black English poet Alex Wharton.

Hamilton’s appearance is supposedly a nod to John Ystumllyn, considered considered one of the first known black gardeners in Britain and the first well-known black resident of North Wales. It is believed that he got here to the Ystumllyn estate as a captive.

The one-of-a-kind, hand-embroidered Hamilton set took several weeks to create.

But Hamilton’s tribute was met with some controversy.

“What a clown, the most privileged attention in the world.” one person wrote on X

“Lewis can’t do much without being an insufferable racist, it’s true,” one other X user he wrote.

Another person raised the difficulty of Hamilton’s biracial heritage: saying“His mom must be very disappointed in the fact that the guy completely ignores the fact that he is half-white. But do we expect something different from a PR salesman?”

“He always acts like he’s not half white. his ancestors were partially responsible for black slavery. makes my blood boil,” added one other commenter.

Hamilton plays a predominantly white sport and has previously spoken out concerning the racism he faced on his way to the highest of Formula One.

“I heard racist insults being called” – after which – said 12-year-old Hamilton when he talked about his experiences as considered one of the few black people in the game when he first began racing. “When it first happened I felt really upset, I told my mum and pop and felt like I had to get back at them. But these days, if someone says something to me, I just ignore them and get back on course.

Young Lewis Hamilton talks concerning the racism he encountered within the karting world. pic.twitter.com/60VvzwXZ8L

— AFRICAN AND BLACK HISTORY (@AfricanArchives) May 7, 2024

In 2020, Hamilton, who currently drives for Mercedes, got here under fire from the German company past interests have been examined.

“Lewis Hamilton. You are funny. He preached against slavery while being paid by a German slave trading company during World War II. What an idiot” – User X wrote in 2020.

Little did his critics know that in a couple of short years Hamilton would make the shocking announcement that he would go away for Ferrari in 2025 after 11 years at Mercedes.

Seven-time winner of the Drivers’ Championship announced the change in February.

“I have spent an incredible 11 years with this team (Mercedes) and I am very proud of what we have achieved together,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes has been a part of my life since I used to be 13 years old. This is where I grew up, so the choice to leave was considered one of the toughest I’ve ever had to make. But the time is true for me to take this step and I’m excited to tackle this latest challenge.

He continued: “I will likely be perpetually grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially (Mercedes team principal) Toto (Wolff) for his friendship and leadership. I would like to finish the race on a high together. I’m 100% committed to delivering my best performance this season and making my final 12 months with the Silver Arrows a memorable one.

Every 12 months on the first Monday in May, the biggest stars, movie stars, musicians and athletes gather to have a good time the Met Gala. Contrary to popular belief, the Met Gala shouldn’t be a fancy dress party, but a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Designers dress guests (hand-chosen by the magazine’s longtime editor Anna Wintour) in a theme inspired by the exhibition at the museum’s Costume Institute for fashion’s most important evening. This 12 months’s edition was “The garden of time“, a nod to the exhibition “Sleeping beauties: awakening fashion” and based on a brief story by English author JG Ballard, written in 1962.

As you would possibly expect, florals were an enormous trend in the off-white rug, and in some cases perhaps crucial.

Here’s a glance at our favorites from the evening.